Automatic apparatus for extinguishing fire.



' No. 753,897. PAI'BNTED MAR. 8,1904.

' H. F. MAXIM; I

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 7, 1902. I

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. H. F. MAXIM. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1902.

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11.1". MAXIM. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE.

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H. F. MAXIM. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHIN G FIRE.

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citizen of theUnited States, residing at Lockes same time turns thewater into one or more water-valves and their connected alarms.

invention as arranged to work in connection UNITED STATES Patented March8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD F. MAXIM, or BETHEL, MAINE.

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent No. 753,897, dated March8, 1904.

Application filed April 7, 1902. Serial No. 101,678. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, HOWARD F. MAXIM, a

Mills, in the town of Bethel, county of Oxford, and State of Maine. haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Apparatus forExtinguishing Fire, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of fireextinguishing apparatus whichmakes use ofautomatic sprinklers; and in its complete form it comprisesan automatic construction which sounds a series of alarms whenever waterbe ginsto flow from the sprinklers and at the dry pipes fitted withsimilar sprinklers.

My invention also provides for additional electrical control of theabove mentioned' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a drawing,partly diagrammatic, showing. my

with a water-tank and with a directly-connected steam-whistle. .Fig. 2is a corresponding plan. Fig. 3 is an elevation showingmyinvention asused in connection with a supply of water from outside the building.Fig. 4: is an elevation showing both full and empty pipes. Fig. 5 is adetail plan showing part of the mechanism for working the valve whichcontrols the empty pipes. Fig. 6isa sectional detail of an automaticvalve for drawing away the drip from the a valve through which the'empty pipes are filled. Fig. 7 is a sectionaldetail of the detent andits attachments which control the opening of the valve in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan, and Fig. 9 an' elevation, of" an additional releasefor the" alarm-actuating'f weight shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Fig. 10 showsthe connection of three flow-detecting pistons with anannunciator, otherparts being omitted.

In the drawings,..T is a water-tank.

A is a main pipe, which may be connected with the tank T, as shown inFig. 1, or-with. a source of water-supply from outside the building, asin Fig. 3. I s

C is a cylinder in the line of A; P a piston fitting C so as to slidewater-tight with little friction.

E is an enlarged chamber into which the piston P is carried by thepressure of the water behind it when the counterbalancing pressure ofthe water in front of it is reduced by outflow.

S is a sprinkler-pipe, to which 'a series of automatic sprinklers, as t,are attached. As any of the sprinklers in ordinary use answer thepurposes of my invention, I have not attempted to show theirconstruction.

B is a by-pass pipe,wh ich in Fig. 1 connects the tank.T with the mainpipe A and in Fig.

3 connects the main pipe M with the sprinkler-pipe S.

R is a piston-rod which connects the piston with the alarm mechanism. atisalever, andr a connecting-rod, which transmit the motion of thepiston-rod R to the forked lever D.

a n are rollers projecting from the sides of the alarm-weight W, whichrest upon. the

' forked lever D when the piston P is in the position shown. When thepiston P is sucked into the chamber E by the flow of water from thesprinkler-pipe S, the alarm-weight W rolls off and in falling into theposition shown by the dotted lines pulls the alarm-cord 27 and actuatesthe alarm L, which may be a steam-whistle, as shown, or any other deviceconveniently set in motion by a falling weight. Where the alarm L is ageneral alarm to the neighboring community, I prefer in most cases tointerpose a more local alarm or series of alarms, as shown in Fig. 3,where as the pistonP moves into the chamber E the rod R releases the de-31, attached to the piston-rod R against the contact-spring 30.

The clockwork-alarm L swings the hammer k against the bell K by theaction of therollers 1 2 3 4, which by their number and posiwhere'thereis more than one in the system- The weight w as it falls pulls on thecord 27 and at'last, if the outflow is not stopped, re.- leases thegeneral alarm L of Fig. l.

tion indicate the. particularalarm sounded IOO As there are usuallyparts of any large es:

' power available in the circuit.

tablishment in which it is undesirable to keep sprinkler-pipes full ofwater at all times, I provide for turning Water into empty pipes whenneeded.

S, Fig. 1, is an empty sprinkler-pipe connected with a main pipe Athrough the valve V. A sprocket-wheel 16 on the stem of the valve V isconnected by the chain 17 with the sprocket-wheel11,to which motion inthe right direction to open the valve is imparted by the spring 10 andin the reverse direction by the hand-wheel 12,which is provided withpins 14:. The valve is held closed by the detent 5, which is shown on anenlarged scale in Fig. 7.

When the piston P lifts the forked lever D, as heretofore specified, italso lifts the rod f. This rodf enters a slot in the outer end of thebell-crank lever 9 and lifts it. As the other arm of 9 passes behind 8,the enlarged end of the detent 6, it pulls it out from between therollers 27 and permits the spring 10 to open the valve V.

In order to provide for releasing the spring 10 when there is dangerousheat in the neighborhood of the empty pipes, I provide thermostats ofany approved construction at points to be protected, as b, and arrangethem to close an electric circuit H, which passes through an explosivecharge 7 in front of the piston 6 and fires it by its heating effect.The charge 7 may be of loosely-packed guncotton or of any otherexplosive which can be conveniently adjusted to give the small amount offorce necessary. The resistance of the part of the circuit passingthrough the charge is adjusted to give the necessary heating efl ectwith the battery- As the direct mechanical connection between the pistonP and the detent 5, which is shown in Fig. 4, can only be applied inthat part of the system where the piston and the valve come closetogether, I provide for releasing valves in other parts of the system, abranch of the electric circuit H running to the outer end of thepiston-rod R, as shown in Fig. 4. When this piston-rod R is drawn downby an outward flow of water from the sprinkler-pipe S, the spring 23closes the circuit at 24, thereby igniting the charge 7 and pushing outthe detent 5. The explosion of the charge gives an alarm. To continuethe alarm, I make use of the valve-closing mechanismby placing the alarm15 where its handle will be struck by the pins 14 on the rim of thehand-Wheel; but I do not limit myself to this precise construction,since where more convenient other methods of utilizing a part of thestrength of the valve-closing spring for sounding an alarm will readilysuggest themselves.

As it is frequently desirable to give an instantaneous alarm from pointsnot protected by the sprinklers, I provide for it by the constructionshown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which the rollers 02 and 02. extend over theforked levers D I), so that the lifting of either will drop the weightW. The inner end of the forked lever D is supported by the piston 19,which rests upon an explosive charge in the bottom of the cylinder C,through which an electric firing-circuit H passes. Thermostaticcircuitclosers, as b, and circuit-closing switches, as h, are insertedat points from which an instan taneous alarm is desirable.

As there is liable to be a certain amount of leakage past the automaticvalve V, I provide a downward bend a to catch this leakage and adrainage-pipe 18, closed by an internal valve 19, held up by a spring20, which is adjusted by a screw-cap 21, perforated at 22.

When I wish to make use of my invention in its complete form, I fit upnormally full sprinkler-pipes in all those parts of the building orbuildings to be protected in which their use is feasible. In placeswhere full pipes cannot well be used I put up empty ones, connectingthem, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of automatically-actuated valves withsome part of the full system of piping. Where the area to be protectedis extensive, and especially where it covers more than one building, Iinsert the pistons P, with their attached alarms, indifferent branchesof the system and make a distinguishable difference in the alarms, asheretofore explained. I also provide by means of the construction shownin Figs. 8 and 9 for setting the principal alarm in action. fromdanger-points which cannot be protected by sprinklers and from points atwhich in case of danger from outside the premises the circuit can beclosed by a switch. If a fire now breaks out in the immediateneighborhood of the full pipes, the sprinklers will open and at thefirst flow of water the piston P, which is interposed between thesprinklers that open and their source of supply, will move, setting inaction its connected alarms and the valve-opening mechanism for theempty pipes connected with that part of the system. If the fire startsnear the empty pipes, the adjacent thermostats will close thefiring-circuit, and thereby release the valve-opening mechanism, whichturns water into the empty pipes, and thereby, through the interposedpiston P, puts in action the automatic alarms and valves connectedtherewith. If the fire breaks out at some point not protected bysprinklers, a thermostat placed near will act through the mechanismshown in Figs. 8 and 9 to release the principal alarm, and when there isdanger from fire outside the premises one or more switches placed atconvenient points, as indicated in the diagram of Fig. 9, may be closedand give an instantaneous and general alarm.

If the flow of water acting on the piston P in Fig. 1 is caused by asmall leak or by the starting of a single sprinkler, the piston P willnot be pushed fully into the enlarged chamber E and the general alarm LWill not be released by the falling of the weight W.

When the leak is stopped, I open the by-pass B and then pull the pistonI back intoplace and close the by-pass B. Having now fully described myinvention and the manner of using it, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a system of waterpiping in which the inclosedwater is normally at rest, of a cylinder inserted in the principal lineof pipe, a piston fitting the cylinder and sliding therein, an enlargedcham her at the inner end of the cylinder into which the piston slides,an alarm, a detent releasing the alarm and a mechanical connection whichtransmits the motion of the piston to the detent; all as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination with a system of pipes which feed fire-extinguishingapparatus of a cylinder inserted in the course of one of the principalpipes, a piston which fits the cylinder, an enlarged chamber at theinner end of the cylinder, an alarm actuated by the movement of thepiston, a by-pass around the cylinder and a valve controlling the flowof water through the by-pass; all as and for the purpose set forth;

3. The combination with a system of waterpipes in which the water isnormally at rest, of two or more cylinders, each of which isinserted ina separate branch of the system, pistons fitting each cylinder, two ormore electric circuits correspondingto the pistons and controlled bythem, and a combined annunciator and alarm-with which each of thecircuits is connected; all combined with each other substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a system of sprinkler-pipes which is normallyfilled with water of one or more empty sprinkler-pipes, valves admittingwater from the full pipesinto the empty ones, one or more pistons whichintercept the flow of water into the empty sprinkler-pipes and an alarmactuated by the movement of either piston; all as and for the purandwith a source of water-supply substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

6. In an automatic sprinkler system one or more sprinkler-pipes whichare normally full of water, one or more empty sprinkler-pipes, a valveadmitting water to the empty pipes, a coiled spring, intermediatemechanism between the spring and the valve, a detent holding the spring,a piston intercepting the water, one or more empty sprinkler-pipes, avalve connecting the full and the empty pipes,

a coiled spring which acts to open the valve, a mechanical connectionbetween the spring and the valve, a detent which holds the spring fromaction, a source of water-supply, a piston interposed between the sourceof supply and the full pipes, a piston-rod, an electric circuit which isheld open by the piston-rod and closes with its inward motion and meansof releasing the detent actuated by the electric circuit; all combinedwith each as and for the purpose set forth. I

8. In a system of automatic sprinklers, one

or, more sprinkler-pipes which are kept full of water, one or more emptysprinkler-pipes, a valve between the full and the empty pipes, a springacting to openthe valve, a detent hold ing the spring, a pistonintercepting the flow of water to the full pipes, a mechanicalconnection between the piston and the detent, an electric circuit, aseries of circuit-closingthermostats in the neighborhoodof the emptypipes, and means of releasing the detent controlled by the electriccircuit, all combined witheach other as and for the purposeset forth. a9. In an automatic sprinkler system the combination of a source ofWater-supply, one or more sprinkler pipes connected therewith, one ormore empty sprinkler-pipes,.avalve connecting the empty pipes with' thesource of water-supply, a spring acting to open the valve, a detentholding the spring, a piston. interposedbetween the source of supply andthe full pipes, an electric circuit, ,a circuitcloser therefor actuatedby the motion of the piston, a series -of circuit-closing thermostats inthe neighborhood of the empty pipes, a

branch of the electric circuit passing therethrough and means ofreleasing the dete'nt' actuated by the electric circuit; all combinedwith each other as and for the purpose set forth;

- 10. In a system of automatic sprinklers'a source of water-supply, oneor more'empty' sprinkler-pipes, a valve connectingthe pipes with thesource of supply, a spring acting to open the valve, a detent holdingthe spring, a cylinder closed at the end, a piston fitting the cylinder,a piston-rod connected with the detent, an explosive charge inclosedbelow the piston, an electric circuit passing through the charge andadapted to. explode it by its heating effect, and one ormorecircuit-closers; all in combination with each other substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

11. In a system of automatic sprinklers a source of water supply, one ormore full sprinkler-pipes, a piston interposed between the source andthe full pipes, a chamber into which the piston passes, one or moreempty sprinkler-pipes, a valve connecting the empty pipes with thesource of supply, a spring acting to open the valve, a cylinder closedat the ends, a piston moving therein, a piston-rod passing through bothends of the cylinder and acting at one end as a detent for the spring,intermediate mechanism transmitting to the other end of this piston-rodthe motion of the piston interposed between the source of watersupplyand the full pipes, an explosive charge in the cylinder, an electriccircuit passing through the charge and adapted to ignite it, and meansof closing the circuit at points protected by the empty sprinkler-pipes;all combined with each other substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

12. In a system of automatic sprinklers a water-tank, a cylinderprojecting from the bottom of the tank, a piston working therein, anenlarged chamber into which the piston passes, sprinkler-tubes leadingout therefrom, a piston-rod rising through the tank, a whistle or otheralarm, an actuating-cord attached thereto, a weight attached to theother end of the cord, rollers projecting from the side of the weight, aforked lever on which the rollers rest and a mechanical connectionbetween the inner end of the lever and the upper end of the piston-rod;all in combination with each other as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a system of automatic sprinklers a piston intercepting the flowof water thereinto, a cylinder, an enlarged chamber into which thecylinder gradually changes, an alarm which is actuated by the firstmotion of the piston and a second alarm which is actuated by the pistonwhen the flow of water has become sufficient to carry the piston intothe enlarged chamber; all combined with eachother as and for the purposeset forth.

14. In a system of automatic sprinklers, a source of water-supply, oneor more empty sprinkler-pipes, a valve connecting the pipes with thesource of supply, a sprocket-wheel upon the valve-stem, a secondsprocket-wheel upon a shaft at a distance, a chain connecting the twosprockets, a spring coiled about the shaft, a hand-wheel for coiling thespring, a detent entering the rim of the hand-wheel, an automaticrelease for the detent; all combined with each other as and for thepurpose set forth.

15. In asystem of automatic sprinklers a source of water-supply, one ormore empty sprinkler-pipes, a valve connecting the pipes with the sourceof supply, a spring acting to open the valve, a hand-wheel by which thespring is coiled, an alarm actuated by the reverse motion of thehand-wheel and an automatically-controlled detent for the spring; all incombination with each other as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In an automatic sprinkler system a source of water-supply, two ormore sprinkler-pipes separately connected with the source of supply, aseparate piston which intercepts the flow of water into eachseparately-connected pipe, and an alarm actuated by each piston which isdistinguishable from that attached to either of the others; all incombination with each other as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In an automatic sprinkler system an alarm, an actuating-weightconnected therewith, supporting-rollers for the weight, a pair of forkedlevers on which the rollers rest, one or more sprinkler-pipes, a pistonintercepting the flow of water into the pipes, a mechanical connectionbetween the piston and one of the forked levers, a piston which supportsthe inner end of the other forked lever, a cylinder in which this pistonmoves freely, an explosive charge below the piston, a conducting-fuse inthe charge, an electric circuit passing through the fuse and one or morecircuit-closers; all in combination with each other as and for thepurpose set forth.

18. In a system of automatic sprinklers a source of water-supply, anempty sprinklerpipe, an automatically-controlled valve between thesource of supply and the pipe, a U-shaped bend in the pipe, adrainage-tube leading down from the lowest point of the bend, aninternal valve which closes the outlet of the drainage-tube, a spiralspring which supports the weight of the internal valve, and a perforatedadjusting-cap at the lower end of the drainage -tube; all combined witheach other as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD F. MAXIM. Witnesses:

E. G. PACK, FRED B. MERRILL.

